Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Residents
of Lyantonde District are in panic following the death of a primary school on
Saturday November 17, 2012. The deceased Tomasi Kasente Njerejezza died with
Ebola-like symptoms. His death comes a time when the deadly Ebola has broken
out in Luweero district just 30 days after Uganda was declared Ebola free by
the World Health Organization.

The
late Tomasi a teacher and boda-boda
rider (motorcycle taxi) died after a short illness after suffering severe
headache, high fever, stomach pains, diarrhea, intensive bleeding and vomiting
which are some of the symptoms of the deadly Ebola fever. The late Tomasi’s colleagues suspect he
contracted Ebola virus from
Luweero where he was on business
few days before his death.

Dr.
Steven Kagaaya who led a team of health experts said none of the family members
were allowed to touch the deceased’s body because they lacked protective gear
like gloves and masks. Blood samples were taken from the deceased and taken
Uganda’s virus institute to confirm if it was Ebola. However, relatives and neighbors
of the deceased are being monitored for any Ebola symptoms. Dr. Steven said
that equipment like gloves, sprays and masks for medical workers have already
run out yet relatives and medical workers can not come close to suspected patients
with out protective gear.

Last
evening, Uganda’s NTV also reported
of the emergence of the Ebola fever in Lyantonde. We are in touch with medical
staff at Lyantonde Hospital and we will keep our readers updated.

Monday, November 12, 2012

UGANDA -The
cost of corruption is huge. Starting this week, we are joining other NGOS across the country to mourn gross theft of public funds by government funds. Our offices will be closed for 3 days between Nov. 12 - Nov 23, 2012. We look back at nine graft scandals that have
tossed Uganda here and there in the recent past.

Common Wealth Head of
Governments Meeting (Chogm) 2007

This came to public attention last year (2011). Several ministers, including
former Vice-President, Gilbert Bukenya, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and former
state minister for works and transport, John Byabagambi, were implicated in the
mismanagement of billions of public funds meant for the 2007 CHOGM summit.

Others implicated were ministers John Nasasira, Mwesigwa Rukutana and Isaac
Musumba. Although Parliament allocated sh270b to the summit, the Auditor
General discovered that more than sh370b was spent.

The figures went up to sh500b after parliamentary accounts committee grilled
those who spent the funds.

The probe, commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni, found out that money was
lost in irregular procurement of the CHOGM cars, road construction and repairs,
and the renovation of Entebbe Airport, among other ventures.

Several permanent secretaries interrogated claimed they had acted on orders
from former Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya, who was the chairman of the Cabinet
sub-committee on CHOGM.

Prof. Bukenya was accused of influence-peddling in the sh19b CHOGM car deal,
but later court acquitted him.

Global Fund 2008

At the time of investigations, $10m (sh25b) was missing, although some sources
put the figure at $37 (sh95.8b).

The money was meant for malaria and tuberculosis drugs programmes. The scandal
sucked in former health minister Jim Muhwezi and his then deputies Mike Mukula
and Alex Kamugisha.

Some of the known culprits include the director of economic affairs in the President’s
Office, Teddy Cheeye and former production manager of Uganda Television, Fred
Kavuma, who are currently on remand in Luzira Prison over the scam.

Although many of people have since been absolved of wrongdoing by court, Mike
Mukula was told recently that he has a case to answer.

The scandal centered on a new unit within the Health Ministry, known as the
Project Management Unit (PMU), through which the money was siphoned to about
400 private organizations many of which existed only on paper.

Investigations revealed that PMU paid grossly inflated salaries to its 15
professionals and 20 support staff, who often doubled their take home pay with
generous and largely undocumented expense allowances.

Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria has committed $5.1b in grants to more than 130 countries to fight the
three diseases.

Temangalo 2008

NSSF-Temangalo saga came to light in July 2008, when reports emerged that Prime
Minister Amama Mbabazi, then security minister and Amos Nzeyi had been paid
sh11b by the Fund for 414 acres of land, with each acre going for sh24m.

It was reported that the price was higher than that on the market, resulting
into the Fund losing billions of shillings.

Knight Frank put the price of an acre in the area at sh18m, East African
Consulting Surveyors at sh16m and Associated Consulting Surveyors at sh14m.

NSSF decided to go for what it called an open market price of sh24m. The
Parliamentary probe found that Mbabazi used his clout as security minister to
force NSSF to purchase his land.

In its majority report, the parliamentary committee investigating the matter
concluded that indeed Mbabazi and Ezra Suruma had violated sections of the
Leadership Code.

ID Scandal 2010

In February, 2010, the Government entered a deal with Mühlbauer, a German firm,
to supply national IDs. Muhlbauer High Tech was allegedly contracted without
open bidding as required by law.

The company was to supply and install equipment for production of the identity
cards. The IDs were supposed to be used to identify eligible voters during the
2011 elections.

But by February last year, the company had reportedly produced only 400 cards.
Parliament learnt that the Government borrowed over sh150b to finance the project,
which has never kicked off.

According to the PAC, contracting the firm resulted in a fi nancial loss of
sh19b.

The ministers implicated include former general duties minister, Kiddu
Makubuya, former internal affairs minister, Kirunda Kivejinja and the local
government Permanent Secretary, Steven Kagoda.

Bicycle 2011

Amman Industrial Tool and Equipment Ltd, a locally-registered company, was
contracted by the Ministry of Local Government to supply 70,000 bicycles meant
for LCs, but no single bicycle was delivered.

The company was reportedly paid $1.7 million (about sh4b).

Microfinance and Specioza Kazibwe ­ 2011

Sh60b went missing from Microfinance Support Centre in a record three months.

Former Vice-President Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, who was the board
chairperson, was subsequently suspended over allegations of abuse of office and
mismanagement in the office she assumed in 2008.

Others board members who were suspended are MP Tim Lwanga, Mutebi Kityo,
Charles Ogol from the finance ministry and Twino Musinguzi.

President Yoweri Museveni started the institution in 2003, to ensure Ugandans
accessed funds for poverty reduction in their households.

Hassan Basajjabalaba compensation scandal ­ 2011

Sh169b was ‘erroneously’ issued to city tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba as
compensation for the loss of business for the city markets last year.

Two ministers, Syda Bbumba of finance and attorney general Khiddu Makubuya,
were axed alongside three members of staff at State House on the matter.

However, the Government exonerated the Bank of Uganda governor, Tumusiime
Mutebile, of any wrongdoing in the compensation.

Pension’s scandal ­ 2012

Sh169b meant to clear outstanding pension claims of 1,018 former East African
Community workers went missing between February and October last year.

The money is said to have been siphoned through Cairo International Bank, with
connivance from top employees of the ministries of public service and finance.

Peter Sajjabi, the East African Community Beneficiaries Association general
secretary, admitted to the Police that he had recommended the 1,018 names,
which he said were passed on to him by the Ministry of Public Service, to Cairo
International Bank for account opening.

Prime Minister’s Office ­ 2012

The principal accountant in the Prime Minister’s Office, Geoffrey Kazinda, was
recently remanded to Luzira Prison in connection with the disappearance of
sh5b.

The money, meant for the Peace Recovery and Development Plan for Northern
Uganda, was reportedly transferred to the Crisis Management and Recovery
account, from where it was siphoned.

Kazinda has been charged before the Anti-Corruption Court with abuse of office,
causing financial loss, embezzlement, false accounting and forgery.

Following the development, three donor countries cut aid. The British
government, Denmark and Ireland have frozen development aid to the Office of
the Prime Minister.

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About ICOD Action Network

ICOD Action Network is a registered Non Governmental Organization operating in Uganda, East Africa. Founded as Integrated Community Efforts for Development(ICOD) in February 2008, ICOD Action Network’s work extends beyond material support and touches upon the need to empower communities so that they can be able to sustain themselves.

ICOD Action Network has continued to inspire individuals in Southwestern Uganda's to find innovative and sustainable local solutions to end extreme poverty, hunger and diseases. These individuals have demonstrated leadership, selflessness and passion to help their community break barriers to individual and community development and have worked with their communities to find lasting solutions independent from external support. We have continued to work with and train such leadership to move their communities forward.

We believe that sustainable solutions to end hunger, extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS e.t.c are those developed from within communities because lasting solutions lie within communities. That's why we work with communities to create permanent solutions that can sustainably transform them Our approach has continued to inspire individuals and communities and has produced new leaders who have found lasting solutions for their own communities and replicated our work in hard-to-reach communities; that is how we are "ACTION NETWORK".

Vision and Objectives

The organization is guided by the following objectives;1. Working for sustainable community development of the rural poor, orphans and other vulnerable groups of people.2. Increased awareness on HIV/AIDS to positively change people’s attitude and behavior3. Improved capacity of communities and families to care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable individuals.4. Increased household income levels of rural communities.5. Improved capacity of orphans, youth and other vulnerable children to take informed decisions about their lives and improve their socio- economic status.6. Advocate for adherence and observance of fundamental human rights in the community.